Protective service
Private detectives and investigators
Gather, analyze, compile, and report information regarding individuals or organizations to clients, or detect occurrences of unlawful acts or infractions of rules in private establishment.
Median pay
$51,220
Growth to 2035
+6%
about as fast as average
Openings a year
3,200
Time to qualify*
2.5 years
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Private detectives and investigators
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- Less than 5 years
Calculate your switch to private detectives and investigators
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Private detectives and investigators: 57% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Write reports or case summaries to document investigations.
- Conduct private investigations on a paid basis.
- Search computer databases, credit reports, public records, tax or legal filings, or other resources to locate persons or to compile information for investigations.
- Conduct personal background investigations, such as pre-employment checks, to obtain information about an individual's character, financial status, or personal history.
- Expose fraudulent insurance claims or stolen funds.
- Obtain and analyze information on suspects, crimes, or disturbances to solve cases, to identify criminal activity, or to gather information for court cases.
- Testify at hearings or court trials to present evidence.
- Question persons to obtain evidence for cases of divorce, child custody, or missing persons or information about individuals' character or financial status.
Also called: Asset Protection Detective · Field Investigator · Investigator · Loss Prevention Agent · Loss Prevention Associate · Loss Prevention Detective · Loss Prevention Investigator · Loss Prevention Officer
Outlook and AI
Private detectives and investigators held 39,500 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 41,700 by 2035 (+6%, about as fast as average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
- Private detectives and investigators vs. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Private detectives and investigators vs. Financial specialists, all other
- Private detectives and investigators vs. Protective service workers, all other
- Private detectives and investigators vs. Police officer
- Private detectives and investigators vs. Compliance officer
- Private detectives and investigators vs. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Private detectives and investigators vs. Forensic science technician